Two men whose roles in an altercation on St. Patrick’s Day that left a friend dead in Pacific Beach have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit assault against the driver who hit their friend in a confusing incident that was alcohol-related.
Both Matthew Lexin, 24, and Edward Vitela, 23, are likely to get probation with any jail term up to one year or less. San Diego Superior Court Judge David Danielsen set sentencing for Dec. 11, and both men remain free on their own recognizance.
Their friend, Timothy Easton, 22, of Encinitas, was intoxicated and got beaten up by teenagers at a service station on March 17. Easton returned to a party and recruited Lexin, Vitela, and a third man to find the teenagers, but the teenagers had left the area. Apparently, the men mistakenly attacked a couple that were driving on Agate Street near Mission Boulevard looking for an apartment to rent around 6:15 p.m.
Easton stepped in front of the Jeep while the others yelled at the occupants to get out, and someone kicked the car. The driver, thinking he was being carjacked, drove away while Easton was standing on the hood. Easton then fell off and was struck, and later died of his injuries. Easton’s blood-alcohol level showed he was drunk at the time.
The driver stopped but then was chased by the others and drove off, calling 911 minutes later. Police officers from the homicide division investigated the actions of everyone.
Police and the District Attorney’s Office concluded the driver was not at fault, and charges were filed against Lexin, Vitela and a third man that alleged they attacked the driver. A judge at the preliminary hearing dismissed all charges against the third man on June 29.
Defense attorneys for Vitela and Lexin will be free to argue at sentencing that the conspiracy charge be reduced to a misdemeanor, according to court records. While the maximum sentence is four years in prison, the prosecutor will not seek a jail term greater than one year. Vitela lives in Encinitas and Lexin resides in Carlsbad.